2019 Map of Dismal Swamp

About this map

The low-lying wetlands of Big Stone County dominate this landscape, where the namesake Dismal Swamp and numerous sloughs define the rural character. This interior portion of the county is a complex patchwork of water and prairie, anchored by the Maple Cem near the center of the survey. The mapping reveals a distinct agricultural grid of gravel and section roads, including Co HWY 8 and Co RD 71, which navigate around significant depressions like the Lone Tree Lakebed and Karl Slough. The reliance on local hydrology is evident in the naming of features such as Olson Lake and Bentsen Lake, likely reflecting the legacy of early landholders in the region. Notable is the contrast between established county highways and the smaller routes like the Minimum Maintance Rd, indicating the varying accessibility of this boggy terrain.